General Information

Ricinus communis is a much-branched, short-lived perennial plant with stout, hollow stems that become more or less woody and persist. A fast-growing plant in the wild, where it can grow up to 12 metres tall, in cultivation it is usually smaller, rarely exceeding 4 metresd[

Excellent photos of over 1,100 species and cultivars with habits and cultivation details plus a few plant uses. Many species are too tender for outdoors in Britain though there are many that can be grown outside.

A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

]. It is still widely cultivated for its seed in tropical and sub-tropical zones[

Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

]. There are many named varieties, some developed for ornamental use and others for oil production[

Excellent photos of over 1,100 species and cultivars with habits and cultivation details plus a few plant uses. Many species are too tender for outdoors in Britain though there are many that can be grown outside.

Botanical References

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Range

Africa? Original habitat is obscure. Naturalized in S. and S.C. Europe.

Habitat

Not known in a truly wild situation.

Properties

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Other Uses Rating

Habit

Evergreen Shrub

Height

1.50 m

Growth Rate

Fast

Pollinators

Wind

Self-fertile

Yes

Cultivation Status

Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the tropics and subtropics, it can also be grown as a summer annual in temperate zones. It can be found at elevations up to 2,000 metres in the tropics. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 30°c, but can tolerate 15 - 39°c[

Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.

].
The plant is often cultivated as an oil crop and also as an ornamental. Its seeds, which are spread by birds and mammals, an lie dormant in the soil for several years until disturbed. The plant often escapes from cultivation and establishes itself as a weed - fast-growing from seed, it forms thickets that shade out native flora. It has been declared a weed in many countries[

A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.

]. It is considered to be fast, safe and gentle, prompting a bowel movement in 3 - 5 hours, and is recommended for both the very young and the aged[

].
The plant is traditionally grown in living fences in the northwestern Himalayas, where it helps to exclude livestock and other animals; mark out land boundaries; whilst also providing a range of medicinal and other uses[

A brief look at 61 species of plants used in hedging in northwest Himalayas nd their other uses

].

Other Uses

The seed contains 35 - 55% of a drying oil. As well as being used in cooking, it is an ingredient in a wide range of commodities including imitation leather, soaps, polishes, flypapers, paints and varnishes[

An excellent and well illustrated pocket guide for those with very large pockets. Also gives some details on plant uses.

]. The oil is used in coating fabrics and other protective coverings, in the manufacture of high-grade lubricants, transparent typewriter and printing inks, in textile dyeing (when converted into sulphonated Castor Oil or Turkey-Red Oil, for dyeing cotton fabrics with alizarine) and in the production of 'Rilson', a polyamide nylon-type fibre[

Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

Not very comprehensive, but it is quite readable and goes into some detail about the plants it does cover.

].

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ. If seed is in short supply, then sow in individual pots in a lightly shaded position and grow the seedlings on until large enough to plant out.
The seeds retain their viability for 2 - 3 years[